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From Merriam Webster: mat·ro·nym·ic
Pronunciation: "ma-tr&-'ni-mik
Function: noun
Etymology: matr- + -onymic (as in patronymic)
: a name derived from that of the mother or a maternal ancestor
Mitochondrial DNA is a DNA sequence which can be used to trace the female lines in your family history from your mother, her mother, your mother's mother, and so on. Mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) is found in both males and females, and is inherited from your mother. Males do inherit it from their mother, but only females pass on mtDNA to their children.
Y chromosome testing is used extensively in male surname DNA studies. mtDNA tests are not used as often but are a helpful genealogy research tool because they can be used by both males and females.
mtDNA changes very slowly, so it cannot determine close relationships as well as it can determine general relatedness. Two people who have an exact match in their mtDNA have a very good chance they share a common maternal ancestor. However it is hard to determine if the common maternal ancestor is from a few or many many generations past.